In a very disturbing development, a rocket launcher was found near the Shiva Temple in Andanallur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
At first, the devotees who spotted it thought it was a bomb. They then informed the police about the same, who reached the spot and took the rocket launcher away.
While the matter is still under investigation and the agencies are trying to trace the origin of the rocket launchers, it is pertinent to discuss how such dangerous weapons are making their way into the state with such ease.
Tamil Nadu which has seen a cocktail of Christian conversions, radicalisation and outfits such as the LTTE has somehow managed to live in denial about the growing security concerns in the state.
The state’s machinery has been complicit despite warnings by the Central agencies about a network of criminals operating on its soil. The Central agencies have warned that the LTTE is trying to revive itself in Tamil Nadu. Further the government has been warned that several elements have been coming in from Sri Lanka through the waters and are indulging in narco trade. The state has also been warned that Tamil Nadu’s Kodikarrai fishing port has been used as a landing point for long. Arms and ammunition landing at this port has been smuggled into Kerala and handed over to the naxalites.
Last but not least the ISI had set up a module in Colombo through which it was trying to send in terrorists into Tamil Nadu, following which modules across South India would be opened up. Basically, the ISI wanted to use Tamil Nadu as the gateway to the South.
Tamil Nadu’s arms and ammunition problem
The spotting of the rocket launchers in Trichy cannot be treated as an isolated case. These are not ordinary weapons and are deployed during wars. One such organisation capable of sourcing such weapons is the LTTE or the modules that exist in Tamil Nadu which are inspired by it.
In February this year, the National Investigation Agency had conducted extensive raids across six locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with a 2022 case relating to the seizure of arms and ammunition from a suspected LTTE inspired module.
The NIA raided several places in connection with this case which is also known as the Omalur PS arms case. Raids were conducted at Chennai, Trichy, Sivaganga and Tenkasi. During the searches, seven mobiles, a laptop, eight SIM cards and four pen drives in addition to incriminating documents were seized.
During the probe it was learnt that a duo inspired by the LTTE, which is a designated terrorist organisation wanted to establish a similar outfit and wage an armed struggle in Tamil Nadu.
The revival attempts by the LTTE
In the midst of Intelligence Bureau reports clearly suggesting that the LTTE is making every attempt to revive, such incidents of rocket launchers being found are extremely concerning.
In 2023, the NIA had seized a huge cache of cash, gold bars, digital devices, documents and narcotics during the searches that it had conducted in Chennai. The agency said that the raids were conducted at the residential and business premises of eight suspects in connection with an Indo-Sri Lankan illegal drugs and arms trade racket aimed at reviving the LTTE.
The NIA learnt that the suspect in the case, Ayyappan Nandhu was managing the drug trade on behalf of one Muhammed Admin, a Sri Lankan refugee and drug trafficker who had conspired with other accused to revive the LTTE through drugs and arms trade.
To further their cause, they are not only raising funds through drug trade, but are also indulging in extensive propaganda. The former operatives have been funding webinars to speak about the importance of reviving the outfit. The rural areas in Tamil Nadu is where such seminars are being held. These events are held with the help of the local NGOs.
Further inputs also suggest that the LTTE still has crores of Rupees lying in various accounts. Off late there has been some activity that suggests that attempts are being made to draw the same out. The agencies managed to track one such transaction to the Indian Overseas Bank’s Mumbai Fort branch. Money was withdrawn and attempts were made to transfer the same to the operatives on the ground who have been tasked with reviving the outfit.
It also came to the notice of the agencies that some of the LTTE members had even reached out to Pakistan based operatives. The activity by these elements was particularly high when Sri Lanka plunged into a massive economic crisis, which led to unrest in the country.
Officials told Organiser that the state government cannot afford to remain complicit about the problem. They need to coordinate better with the Central agencies instead of playing politics over such issues that are of extreme national interest.
